“It was probably the best 10 years of my life out there,” Nabokov says of his time with San Jose

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – He talked about his present and his future, but most of the 15 minutes that Evgeni Nabokov spent talking with the media on the day his new team is playing his old team was spent in the past.

How much he liked playing in San Jose, how things went sideways for him last winter when he tried to return to the NHL after a 22-game stint in Russia,

Nabokov was in a pretty good mood, taking time to good-naturedly knock two members of the Sharks broadcast crew – OK, you forced me to reveal that it was Drew Remenda and Jamie Baker — who didn’t make it to Nassau Coliseum on Saturday morning.

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A sampling of what he had to say to both those of us from San Jose as well as the Long Island media on hand was in the previous posting. Here’s a look beyond that:

On his memories from San Jose:

“It was probably the best 10 years of my life out there and I don’t think it will be replaceable. But we have to move on. Life is still on and all I want to do is play hockey. But that organization did nothing but the best stuff for me, the fans were absolutely awesome out there.”

Nabokov also was asked about the late Warren Strelow and the goalie credited his San Jose coach for the fact Nabokov has a decade in the league. Strelow’s patience and ability to teach were two reasons.

What advice would he give his new teammates as they’re about to play the Sharks:

“If I would be asked I would share information. But it’s a game and it’s not such a thing as ‘Oh, you have to cover this guy’ or, ‘Oh you have to cover this guy or the guy likes to do this or the guy likes to do that.’

“Some people say you know what this guy is going to do, say what Patrick Marleau is going to do. What? He can only shoot glove side? He can shoot anywhere he wants, right? Players with that much skill, you can’t predict what they’re going to do, you can’t say they like to do this or that because it’s so many different ways.

“The one thing I would tell you is that it’s going to take the whole team to beat that team. It’s not the one line or it’s not just the penalty kill that’s going to hurt them. The only way we can beat them is if we show up 100 percent, everybody.”

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On Ryane Clowe’s suggestion that a shootout is where the ex-teammate factor would matter:

“Is he still using that move that I told him? I don’t know if I would want to go to that situation because they know too many secrets on that.

“But, you’re right, it would be real interesting to go into that, especially as much as we worked on that and always shared our thoughts on that with him and Pav and Patty. We always talked about situations like that.”

On how things went awry when he tried to get back into the NHL last season:

“I talked about it like 20 times, but I will explain. I thought I would be able to join a name team right away and I wasn’t able to because my goal was to go right to the NHL. For obvious reasons because of the waiver draft, everything fell apart.

“Two weeks passed, nothing is going on, three weeks passed, nothing is going on. I think it was Jan. 20 and Detroit called.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that, but they were able to give me some time to get back (to them). I thought about it. I wasn’t too comfortable, but let’s face it, it’s the Detroit Red Wings so I thought, OK, if they’re going to give me the right time to get myself going, I’m going to do that.

“Then Islanders claimed me and I kind of said I’m not ready. I wasn’t able to step in right away and that’s what they wanted me to do. I didn’t feel I could help the team. I know as a goalie, you have to play 60 minutes. You can’t play like a player – five minutes here, two minutes there, 10 minutes there. It’s a big weight on your shoulders and I wasn’t able to do it right away.

“A lot of people started speculating that, well, it’s the Islanders because of this or that. It has nothing to do with that. I wanted to be on a playoff team because that’s the only way I can get myself in shape and I can get myself hopefully playing” after not playing for a month and a half.

Was he aware that another team could claim after he signed with Detroit:

“Absolutely, but at the same token, we thought it was already January 24 so we thought the non-playoff team why would they claim me? For what reason?

“I know when I came here I started hearing, and even when it happened, I said it doesn’t matter if it’s Islanders or Ottawa – it has nothing to do with the organization. It’s all about how I can help them. I just wasn’t able to.”

How can he help the Islander when he’s healthy again:

“Just catch the puck. Now I’ve had a full training camp and I’m comfortable with the guys around here. If I get the call, I have no excuses other than to catch the puck.”

*****I asked Todd McLellan if he thought his team was disappointed it would not get a chance to test itself against Nabokov.

“What I can tell you about our room and Nabby is they have a ton of respect for him. This guy was a longtime Shark, he’s a tremendous human being, an excellent goaltender. That’s what our room would tell you.

“Would they have liked to play against him? I’m sure some would. That’s in their blood, they’re competitive people. And I know Nabby would as well. Unfortunately that’s not going to happen, but we wish him well. It’s nice to see his NHL career back on track.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

I know there are a lot of Nabby haters out there, but he was my favorite Sharks player while he was here. I’m happy to see him back in the NHL and hope he stays around for many years to come.

puckace

Good stuff DP! I always thought Nabby’s quotes made a good post. I hope he gets healthy and gets a trade out of LI down the road.

GSGDI! Whack!

Tutone37

As a goalie myself and a sharks fan, the goalie has always been my favorite shark, whether it was Irbe, Hrudey, Terreri, Shields, Kipper, or Toskala. The reason Nabby and many of the goalies became so good was because of Warren Strelow.

If anything, I would have hoped that one of these goalies would honor Strelow by winning a cup. I thought after he passed away, the momentum to win would carry Nabby. So sad it didn’t.

Will always remember Kipper acknowledging Strelow after he won the Vezina in 2004. Hope one day one of his proteges wins it– that is, after the sharks win their cup.

shocker

Nabby gave us some great memories, and regularly covered up many of the mistakes and inadequacies of our defense.

My favorite memory is the Game 6 Playoff in May 2008 against Dallas. Without Nabby and his 54 saves, there is no way we see that game go to 4OT. Of course, Turco and his 61 saves contributed as well. That was a true classic.

theOldeReprobate

New Sharks commercial:

“Brent Burns, lousy snake handler”

available at the official Sharks website.

theOldeReprobate

Assuming that the Islanders are showcasing Nabokov to make him trade bait, there is still a good chance that he ends up in Detroit. Howard was outstanding against the Sharks but their #2 wasn’t exactly stellar in the previous 2 games.

Not that the results were all that of the backup goalie. The Sharks had 2 breakaways vs. the Wings, and how often did that happen in the past? Not.

I think Ian White is a good replacement for Rafalski, but their D still has holes that weren’t patched over the summer.

bruce

Good for Nabby and good for the Sharks that the feelings are only mutual admiration and respect. I’l never get used to anyone but Nabby coming out of the SharkHead to start th game and the “Nabby” chant.

Not Again

What tutone? You didn’t like Mike Vernon?

Sounds like Nabby has some regret that he didn’t spend additional years in SJ and reduce his salary demands.

Sharkette

This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly that every team should play every other team in the league on their own ice at least once each year. Regardless how you feel about individual ex members of the team – fans at the Tank should have a chance to acknowledge players like Nabby who was a mainstay of the team for 10 years.

theOldeReprobate

Not Again -
It wasn’t a salary issue with Nabokov as UFA. DW never talked to him, as he had decided to (a) go for a butterfly GK, which Nabby isn’t, and (b) go for bigger GKs for the extra strength and height in the crease.

The Sharks’ emergence from mediocre/bottom-feeder-occasionally-making-the-playoffs to annual team to be reckoned with corresponds to ditching the deer-in-the-headlights Steve Shields and giving the crease to Nabokov.

While it is true he never got us to the promised land, neither did Owen Nolan, Mike Vernon, Mike Ricci, Kelly Kisio or any of the other lunks, retreads, has-beens, and never wases who laced ‘em up for San Jose in the old days. And, as someone else mentioned, we know for sure it wasn’t Nabokov who kept them from getting past the WC finals.

Stevo

Don’t forget the Coaches…

Stevo

Mr. Invisible with another assist.

Stevo

The Isles took PIT to the SO… Sharks look like they are not taking these guys seriously.

Stevo

I’m not sure if Jumbo could coast any slower on the PK.

Bad.

Stevo

Takes 5 minutes into the 2nd for the Sharks to get their 1st shot on net.

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz…… they are as sleepy as Mr. Pollak.

gw

Good luck to you always, Nabby (unless it’s game 7 of the Cup vs the Sharks (: )

Stevo

Nabby’s wishin’ he was playing…

Stevo

Greasy with a .941 sv% so far.

Nice. Greiss.

Stevo

Not the way I thought it would turn out, as we were badly out shot, but certainly will take the 2pts.

NickG… your prediction is still lookin’ better than your avatar

Stevo

Actually, the Sharks narrowed the shot-gap [30-37] by the end. So I’ll have to take that back.

ZEKE

Nabby was a terrific goalie for us. And he wasn’t good enough to get us a Cup. Both things are true.

As for the win, sometimes it helps to be a bit lucky. A 6-0 road trip would be something special.

Dirty

Keep it rolling!

FinsOverIce

Hey DB (or anyone who might know)…off subject a teense: where did Bret Hedican go? Is he a victim of these new organization bosses? Not so crazy about the two new guys….so again, was Bret replaced?

JRK

We definitely have an upgrade with Niemi.

marc

Played with Nabby all summer….salt of the earth….great guy…miss him! Definitely not his fault sharks did not go further (look at sharks PP % in playoffis!) as for pay demands…UFA was it, and just look at the Cup goalie in the same postition! there was a huge cutback in goalies money after the DePeitro fiasco…welcome back Nabby….wish you were here in SJ…

Not Again

@10 OldeRep – Whoa, are you saying he let Nabby go in order to sign Niittimaki? I will say he was making too much salary for what we were getting in playoffs. I am sorry to all of you who worship Nabby but a 40-38 career playoff record for a team which was winning Presidents Trophies didn’t quite cut it for me. Although he is far from alone in the blame I was mostly disappointed in his last two playoff appearances where his record as a Shark was 10-11 with a .902 save % and a GAA of over 2.61. I will concede he had a nice career with the Sharks but Irbe will always be my favorite. I am sure he is a really nice guy though which is cool outside of hockey. Heck, Patrick Roy was an absolute jerk but one heckuva playoff goalie.

theOldeReprobate

Not Again @ 30 -
No, I’m saying Wilson parted ways with Nabokov to pursue GKs who were taller, stronger and of the butterfly style. Read it again. Niittimaki was only the first signing.

This has nothing to do with my opinion of Nabokov either way. It is what Wilson and Nabokov both said, in separate interviews, during the UFA period. Go read the archives.

Not Again

Come on now————you expect me to believe that? I am surprised you are buying into that PR garbage. Sure thing, the Sharks want a bigger and stronger goalie to replace their well established GK? So they replace the 6’0 200 pound Nabby with the 6’1 195 pound Niitty! LMAO!
And please, don’t bring Niemi into this conversation because you and I both know he was never in their original plans.
Why can’t you call it for what it is? Nabby was a 5.375m cap hit and DW didn’t feel his value to the team was anywhere near that. Nabby and his agent disagreed and felt they deserved a contract at or near that level. Unfortunately for him, DW and the entire NHL begged to differ and poof, he is off to Russia.

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I should have done it.

PuckRocker43

So That’s what the comment Randy made about sleeping late was about. Drew overslept and didnt catch Nabby before the game. Interesting

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I don’t write a ton of responses, but after looking at through a few of the remarks here “It was probably the best 10 years of my life out there,” Nabokov says of his time with San Jose | Working the Corners. I do have a couple of questions for you if you tend not to mind. Could it be simply me or do a few of these responses look like they are left by brain dead people? And, if you’re posting at additional sites, I’d want to keep up with anything fresh you have to post. Would you list of all of all your public pages just like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?

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